Procedures to be Invoked for Significant Budget Reallocations and Reductions - Preface

Phase 1

Once the process has been invoked, the chancellor3 discusses the budget problem with the Chancellor's Cabinet, the Academic Planning Committee, the Chancellor's Council of Deans and Directors, the Executive Committee of the Academic Senate, the presidents of the University of Nebraska Office Personnel Association (UNOPA) and the University Association for Administrative Development (UAAD) and the appropriate body of the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska. Institutional goals and priorities should provide a foundation for decision making throughout the process. These discussions allow the chancellor3 to consult with a cross-section of the university community very early in the process and will be confidential. The condition of confidentiality may be waived by the chancellor.3

The chancellor3 shall also present to the same representative groups the process
principles, general issues, general guidelines and criteria detailed in this document. These shall be followed throughout this process. A general time-line for the process shall also be discussed; enough time should be allowed during the process to prepare, analyze and negotiate proposals internally before they are publicly announced.

2.

The chancellor 3 and the vice chancellors develop a preliminary general budget
framework4 and a more detailed time-line of the budget reallocation and reduction process, based on previous discussions.

The budget planning framework should be responsive to the priorities and goals contained within the UNL Strategic Plan and be developed in accordance with the process principles, guidelines and criteria presented in the discussions held previously.

3.

The chancellor3 presents a preliminary general budget framework to the Chancellor's Cabinet and the Academic Planning Committee. A more specific time-line for the process is also presented at the same time. This presentation, which is confidential, should be made to a joint meeting of the Cabinet and the Academic Planning Committee and time should be allowed for full discussion.

4.a.

The Academic Planning Committee considers the chancellor's preliminary general budget framework, the rationale on which it is based and the time-line proposed for completion of the decision making process. All relevant data used to develop the preliminary general budget framework will be made available to the Academic Planning Committee. At the same time, the vice chancellors will discuss the same issues with their deans and directors. The work of the Academic Planning Committee, vice chancellors, deans and directors will be confidential.

4.b.

The Budget Office and the Office of Institutional Research and Planning engage in more focused data collection, based on the chancellor's preliminary general budget framework. This effort will be coordinated with the vice chancellors as they begin to formulate responses to the tentative general budget framework. This information will be provided to the Academic Planning Committee.

5.

The Academic Planning Committee advises the chancellor3 on the preliminary general budget framework and time-line. This is a key part of the process and involves candid discussion in a confidential setting.

6.

The chancellor3 considers the advice of the Academic Planning Committee and may choose to test alternatives with the Cabinet and the Academic Planning Committee before finalizing a general budget framework.

7.

The chancellor3 publicly presents the UNL general budget framework. Guidelines
and criteria will also be presented. The format for this presentation will be
determined by the chancellor.3